Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
REPENT, v. Sc. Church usage: vbl.n. repenting, attrib. in comb. repenting stool, a stool placed in a conspicuous position in church on which offenders, esp. against chastity, took their place to be rebuked. Hist. See also Repentance.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 23:
To get a Mends of whinging Fools, That's frighted for Repenting-Stools.Sc. 1757 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 82:
On the whole, it is evident, that the repenting-stool is ineffectual to prevent fornication, and is frequently the cause of the horrid crimes of adultery and murder.Per. 1847 J. P. Lawson Bk. of Perth 196:
Public repentance on the repenting-stool being suspended.
